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Learning, brain development and animal research: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Learning, brain development and animal research (specification points 8.10–8.13), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,749 questions

  1. Q2(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    1 markLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 2(b)(i): The frequency of tapping the Petri dish was controlled. Give one other variable of the tapping stimulus that should be controlled. (1)

  2. Q2(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 2(b)(ii): Show that the mean number of Stentors contracting between 50 and 60 taps is approximately 45. (2)

  3. Q2(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 2(b)(iii): Give two conclusions that can be drawn from the results of this investigation. (2) 1 2

  4. Q2(b)(iv)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 2(b)(iv): Explain the results of this investigation. (2)

  5. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    3 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 9(a)(ii): The investigation also tested the toxicity of the different tissues from each of the five pufferfish. The level of toxicity was tested in mice, and the results

  6. Q3(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 markLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3(a): Calculate the length of the stickleback between lines A and B. Give your answer to two significant figures. (1) Answer mm

  7. Q3(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3(b)(i): Calculate the percentage decrease in the number of bite responses from 1 to 6 minutes. (2) Answer

  8. Q3(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    3 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3(b)(ii): Explain the results of this investigation. (3)

  9. Q3(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    4 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3(c): Adult male sticklebacks develop a red throat during the breeding season. The male of a breeding pair of sticklebacks will attack a competing male in order to dr

  10. Q5(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 5(a): Explain the importance of the habituation response in an animal. (2)

  11. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 5(b)(i): State two variables associated with the light-off stimulus that need to be controlled in this experiment. (2)

  12. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 5(b)(ii): Determine the effect of reduced synapsin on the habituation of fruit flies in this experiment. (3)

  13. Q5(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 5(b)(iii): Explain how reduced expression of synapsin could produce these results. (3)

  14. Q8(j)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    4 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 8(j): Discuss the ethical issues relating to the use of mice in experiments such as those described in the article (paragraph 25). (4)

  15. Q10(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 10(c): In one experiment, Hubel and Wiesel kept the right eye of a kitten closed during the critical period. They then studied the effect of this on the visual region

  16. Q7(i)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 7(i): Sight is a sense that develops during a critical period, ‘providing a basis on which the brain can compute the activity needed for self-preservation.’ (paragrap

  17. Q7(e)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 7(e): The immune system plays a role in recovery following spinal cord injuries. Give two ethical arguments to support the use of rats and mice with spinal cord injur

  18. Q7(j)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 7(j): It has been suggested that there is a critical period for the development of the hard wiring of the immune response into the brain (paragraphs 22 and 23). Expla

  19. Q9(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    2 marksLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 9(b)(i): Describe the effect on saliva production shown by these results. (2)

  20. Q9(b)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    1 markLearning, brain development and animal research
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 9(b)(ii): Name the type of learning behaviour shown by the child as they were repeatedly shown a cheeseburger. (1)
All 26 questions on Learning, brain development and animal research, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 3, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): The frequency of tapping the Petri dish was controlled. Give one other variable of the tapping stimulus that should be controlled. (1)
  2. June 2025, Paper 3, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Show that the mean number of Stentors contracting between 50 and 60 taps is approximately 45. (2)
  3. June 2025, Paper 3, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): Give two conclusions that can be drawn from the results of this investigation. (2) 1 2
  4. June 2025, Paper 3, Q2(b)(iv) (2 marks): Explain the results of this investigation. (2)
  5. June 2024, Paper 2, Q9(a)(ii) (3 marks): The investigation also tested the toxicity of the different tissues from each of the five pufferfish. The level of toxicity was tested in mice, and the results
  6. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3(a) (1 mark): Calculate the length of the stickleback between lines A and B. Give your answer to two significant figures. (1) Answer mm
  7. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage decrease in the number of bite responses from 1 to 6 minutes. (2) Answer
  8. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the results of this investigation. (3)
  9. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3(c) (4 marks): Adult male sticklebacks develop a red throat during the breeding season. The male of a breeding pair of sticklebacks will attack a competing male in order to dr
  10. June 2022, Paper 3, Q5(a) (2 marks): Explain the importance of the habituation response in an animal. (2)
  11. June 2022, Paper 3, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): State two variables associated with the light-off stimulus that need to be controlled in this experiment. (2)
  12. June 2022, Paper 3, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Determine the effect of reduced synapsin on the habituation of fruit flies in this experiment. (3)
  13. June 2022, Paper 3, Q5(b)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how reduced expression of synapsin could produce these results. (3)
  14. June 2022, Paper 3, Q8(j) (4 marks): Discuss the ethical issues relating to the use of mice in experiments such as those described in the article (paragraph 25). (4)
  15. November 2021, Paper 2, Q10(c) (2 marks): In one experiment, Hubel and Wiesel kept the right eye of a kitten closed during the critical period. They then studied the effect of this on the visual region
  16. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(i) (2 marks): Sight is a sense that develops during a critical period, ‘providing a basis on which the brain can compute the activity needed for self-preservation.’ (paragrap
  17. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(e) (2 marks): The immune system plays a role in recovery following spinal cord injuries. Give two ethical arguments to support the use of rats and mice with spinal cord injur
  18. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(j) (2 marks): It has been suggested that there is a critical period for the development of the hard wiring of the immune response into the brain (paragraphs 22 and 23). Expla
  19. June 2019, Paper 2, Q9(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe the effect on saliva production shown by these results. (2)
  20. June 2019, Paper 2, Q9(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name the type of learning behaviour shown by the child as they were repeatedly shown a cheeseburger. (1)
  21. June 2019, Paper 2, Q9(b)(iii) (4 marks): Explain what happens at the synapse to cause a decrease in saliva production when the child was shown a cheeseburger on more than six occasions. (4)
  22. June 2018, Paper 2, Q4(b) (3 marks): Describe the role of visual stimulation on the development of the visual cortex during the critical period. (3)
  23. June 2017, Paper 2, Q8(a) (1 mark): Which of the following terms describes a change in response as a result of repeated stimulation? (1) A co-ordination B habituation C inhibition D reduction
  24. June 2017, Paper 2, Q8(c)(i) (6 marks): Analyse the data from these two studies to evaluate the most likely cause of the loss of the withdrawal response. (6)
  25. June 2017, Paper 2, Q8(c)(ii) (4 marks): Devise an experiment to show that the frequency of the stimulation used in the first study should be 20 stimuli per minute. (4)
  26. June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(d) (4 marks): This investigation used only one 30-minute session of TENS pulses. This was done to reduce the risk of habituation. Describe the process that occurs at a synaps

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